10,000+ Signatures Push to Exempt Coffee from U.S. Tariffs as Industry Pressures Mount

NEW YORK, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In under two months, the specialty coffee community has rallied behind Coffee Bros.' call for action, with over 10,000 signatures collected in support of the petition to exempt coffee from U.S. tariffs.

The momentum reflects mounting concern across the industry — from small roasters to café owners to everyday consumers — as ongoing tariff threats, record-high raw coffee prices, and climate instability reshape the American coffee landscape.

"We're at an inflection point," said Dan Hunnewell, co-founder of Coffee Bros. "Highly desirable coffees are arriving just as tariffs, rising costs, and global instability hit hardest. Small roasters are being forced to choose between raising prices or compromising on quality just to survive. And it's not just coffee — most of the essential goods for cafés and roasters, from paper products and retail bags to filters, aren't manufactured domestically. Even U.S.-based packaging suppliers often rely on raw materials sourced from countries like China. The supply chain pressure is real and far-reaching."

Coffee prices have doubled in just months, driven by poor harvests in Brazil and Vietnam, global inflation, and speculation on the C-Market. As highlighted in Fortune, even midrange beans have seen their cost more than double, while premium, specialty-grade coffees are becoming even more expensive and difficult to source. Tariffs — now reaching as high as 46% for some origins — are making the situation worse, pushing roasters toward lower-grade, commodity coffees and jeopardizing years of progress in quality and sustainability.

"Many small businesses survived COVID-19 by adapting quickly," said Hunnewell. "But these compounding pressures — tariffs, inflation, climate-driven crop loss — are leaving them with few options."

The chaos of the current tariff environment has only intensified this uncertainty. As Fortune reports, roasters are navigating "roller coaster days" as fluctuating policies create confusion and supply chain disruption. While some importers are stockpiling coffee in anticipation, others are raising prices, adding stress on both ends of the supply chain — producers and consumers alike.

Yet the specialty coffee industry continues to fight back. Coffee Bros.' petition, originally launched to call attention to the misalignment of trade policy with agricultural realities, is now a growing movement with national attention. Its goal remains clear:

• Exempt coffee from tariffs under current U.S. trade policies
• Recognize coffee as a non-manufacturable, essential agricultural good
• Protect the livelihoods of U.S. small businesses and the global farmers they depend on

"Coffee can't be grown at scale in the U.S. — and treating it like it can under trade policy is both harmful and shortsighted," said Hunnewell. "This isn't just about our business. It's about protecting a global network of producers, roasters, and communities that rely on one of the world's most important agricultural products."

Coffee Bros. continues to call on policymakers, industry leaders, and consumers to join the fight for fairer, more realistic coffee trade policy.

Sign the petition at Change.org – Exempt Coffee from Tariffs.

About Coffee Bros.
Founded in 2019, Coffee Bros. is a U.S.-based specialty coffee roaster committed to ethical sourcing, sustainability, and long-term producer relationships. Their mission is to make high-quality coffee more accessible while advocating for a more resilient and equitable coffee industry.

Media Contact:
Dan Hunnewell
914-598-6495
[email protected]
www.coffeebros.com

SOURCE Coffee Bros.